Coronavirus and Sobriety

The Coronavirus situation has a lot of people sitting in fear, worry and anxiety. And this can affect those of us in recovery. I created this special episode of Buzzkill Pod to tackle this topic specifically, and which is loaded with tips and techniques on how to shift your mindset through your mental, emotional, spiritual…

I Remember You

I know. I KNOW. It’s been a while. But as R.E.M once said, this is part of Life’s Rich Pageant – we grow and move on and do things. You know…things. (I am about the segue in the most awkward way possible. Hold on to your hats) Speaking of doing things, let me tell ya…

The Resolution Will Not Be Televised

I read an insightful tweet written by a friend the other day. He suggested that if you were to see “resolutionist noobs” at the gym, to please encourage them. He felt the reasons why so many don’t stay after a few weeks is that because they are treated with disdain and mockery. That statement hit…

Breaking The Stigma Of Alcoholism And Addiction From Within

I am a white-passing, middle-aged, professional, able-bodied heterosexual cisgender male. Therefore, I have never suffered at the hands of racism or sexism, implied or declared. I have not been denied a job interview or pulled over by the police haphazardly because of my skin colour, name or gender. I am in a place of privilege,…

Do You Even Blog, Bro?

So it goes something like this: Describe something small and seemingly innocuous Dig to find some deeper spiritual principles that goes with it (use sweeping motifs – people love that shit) Stagger some semi-humourous photos with gag-like captions Finish strong with some lofty ideals and a more serious, uplifting picture. That, my friends, is how…

Biting Your Own Teeth

Who are you? What are your passions? What do you want? Orchestral and reaching questions. Too much to think about when lining up to buy your cat food and mouthwash. The type of questions left for the magical “one day” when you are meditating on a mountaintop and the answers come flowing out of you like…

Shitty Shitty Bang Bang

I have been feeling rather shitty lately. Not the kind of bummed-out-that-my-team-didn’t-win-last-night type of shitty, but the kind where your wife asks you, in a light-hearted way, if you are going to pick up again or worse, harm yourself. The type that duct tapes a black garbage bag over you while submerged in alien snot-slime…

Whirlwinds And Wound Healers

  “I’m not hurting anyone but myself.” This is a common declaration from active alcoholics when confronted about our drinking and our poor behaviour. You’ll find that nestled amongst other groovy expressions like “I know, but—” and “I’m fine” in the well-worn Handbook of Delusional Lines for Drunks we often kept in the library of…

How To Get Six Years of Sobriety

  On May 4th, I celebrated six continuous years of sobriety. Cue the happy dance. “How did you do it? How did you get six years, Pauly?” someone asked me the other day. I paused and gave him a short, but meaningful answer. It fell in line with where I am in my recovery and…

Lights, Fixtures

  With all due respect to The Moz, there is a light that goes out. This past January was a dismal 31 days in my city, weather-wise. We had the lowest amount of sunlight recorded- 48 hours to be exact – in a month. I wouldn’t say I was depressed, but I had to crack out…